Why French Women Don't Get Fat

In my visits to Montreal, Paris and Buenos Aires, I know I was not the first to notice that the women were generally elegant,  attractive and slim. Every now and then I get into conversation with another North American man (it's usually a man, of course) who's noticed the same and there is a (usually unspoken) wondering: why? One thing I do know:  In all those cities, those cultures, food - preparing and eating - is considered an art, and one to be savoured.

Food writer, Julia Reed, used her experience and perspective to explore this intriguing scenario. She remembered six weeks as a student in France, with fine meals every day - and returning home 10 lbs lighter.  It had a lot to do with good food, properly prepared and appreciated.  A few appetizing quotes , then, if you are hungry for more, you can read the article.  But read it slowly, if you don't want to put on weight.

French women . . . stress flavor and variety over quantity and, therefore, are more satisfied with less.  . . . our tendency to gorge ourselves on Snickers bars rather than savoring a single piece of fine dark chocolate. French women eat slowly and ''with all five senses.''  

We may profess to despise her compatriots in all their arrogance, but secretly we still find Paris far sexier than South Beach.  

''French women typically think about good things to eat. American women typically worry about bad things to eat.  

She rejects the ''American rule'' of ''no pain, no gain'' and describes exercise machines as a ''vestige of Puritanism: instruments of public self-flagellation to make up for private sins of couch riding and overeating.''

Comments

[Kim Vallee]

You are right Jeffrey when you say it is a question of eating good things for you. Yesterday for supper I made a recipe with 6 ingredients: spicy Italian sausages (1 per person), mushrooms, plum tomatoes, zucchini, cubanelle peppers and fresh basil. Count 5 minutes in prep time + 10 minutes cooking. You serve it with rice. In less than 30 minutes you got one of the tastiest and filling meals than you can prepare. Even with the sausage, you got fewer calories than a Big Mac. This is how French-speaking women stay thin!

[Georgia]

I had five children and still wore a size five, although I was a great cook and loved food. And, the reason I was able to stay so thin was because I ate like a French woman. I ate what I wanted in smaller quantities. I ate good food and I also walked a lot. I always took the stairs.

However, I became ill and put on some pounds due to medications and lack of exercise but it is coming off and I will never allow myself to gain again. I used to immediately cut back when I gained a few pounds. And as the author does, if I had a fattening dinner I would cut back the next day to compensate. It works!

I made the leek soup and enjoyed it. I plan on continuing to follow the French style of eating!